OSSI continues to promote open-source community professionalism and development within government, academia and IT  industry

OXFORD, MS, May 12, 2003 - The Linux Professional Institute (LPI), (www.lpi.org), the premier international professional certification program for the Linux community, has affiliated with Open Source Software Institute (OSSI) (www.oss-institute.org) to increase exposure and participation of Linux by corporate, government and academic environments across the United States.

As LPI's new US affiliate, OSSI will work directly with existing LPI staff and supporters to develop and expand a network of approved training centers, instructors and trainers as well as promote development/adoption of LPI-certified courseware and training materials.

"OSSI's mission is to promote the development and implementation of Linux and other open-source technologies within industry, government and academic environments," says OSSI Chairman John Weathersby. "As LPI's US affiliate, we look forward to building upon the foundation of educational quality and professionalism among Linux administrators that LPI has established through their certification program."

LPI's international mandate is to design and deliver a certification program from within the Linux community, using both volunteer and professional resources. It has been ranked number one on the list of certifications expected to rise the 'fastest in importance' according to the 2002 CRN
Certification study.  LPI has also been selected as the winner, for the second consecutive year, of the Linux Journal's annual Editors' Choice Awards in the Training and Certification category. LPI has delivered over 27,000 Level One and Level Two certification exams globally since the
program's inception in just two years.

"Becoming affiliated with an existing US group that is already defining and achieving goals that are compatible with LPI's, clearly demonstrates our community involvement and quality we bring to the IT marketplace," adds LPI's president Evan Leibovitch.  "As an organization who is becoming increasingly recognized as an integral open source certification program, we welcome OSSI's professional initiatives and look forward to supporting its team to ensure Linux's adoption and success."

About Open Source Software Institute

The Open Source Software Institute is a non-profit organization comprised of industry, overnment and academic representatives whose mission is to promote the development and implementation of open source software solutions within federal, state and municipal government agencies and academic entities.  Additional information available at OSSI's website www.oss-institute.org.

About Linux Professional Institute

The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) develops professional certification for the Linux operating system independent of software vendors or training providers. Established as an international non-profit organization in 1999 by the Linux community, LPI develops accessible, internationally-recognized certification programs which have earned the respect of vendors, employers and administrators. LPI's activities involve hundreds of volunteers and professionals throughout the world in many different capacities, and the group encourages active public involvement through mailing lists and its website at www.lpi.org. LPI's multi-level program of exams is administered globally through Pearson VUE and Prometric testing centers. LPI's major financial sponsors are Platinum Sponsors Caldera International (NASDAQ:CALD), IBM (NYSE:IBM), Linuxcare, Maxspeed, SGI (NYSE:SGI), SuSE Linux AG and TurboLinux as well as Gold Sponsors Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HWP) and Wave Technologies.

Contacts:
Sheldon Rose
Sacke & Associates Inc.(for LPI)
sheldonr@sackepr.com
416-218-1102

John Weathersby
OSSI
jmw@oss-institute.org
662.236.1794